Inviting Family Members

When international students or scholars (hereinafter, “supporter”) invite their family (only a spouse and children are eligible) to stay in Japan for more than their short-term stay period, the family members need to obtain a Dependent Visa before coming to Japan.
In order to obtain this visa, supporters residing in Japan must apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) for Dependent Visa through the Immigration Services Agency.
Once you receive the Certificate of Eligibility (CoE), please send it to your family in your home country.

If your family member applys for a visa at a Japanese Embassy or Consulate-General in their home country, they must submit this Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) along with the other required documents.

If your family member visits Japan under a Short-Term Stay visa, they do not need a CoE. If they hold a passport from a country with a visa exemption arrangement, they do not need to apply for a Short-Term Stay visa in advance either.

Required documents:

Please check the website of the Immigration Services Agency, and download the Application for the CoE (for a Dependent Visa) (PDF/Excel).

Applicant：Spouse or children of international students and researchers
Supporter：International student, international researcher

1. Application for the CoE (for a Dependent Visa)
2. An ID photo of the family member you apply for (4cm×3cm, taken within the last 6 months of application)
3. Passport of the family member you apply for
4. Official documents proving relationships
   (e.g., spouse: a copy of the marriage certificate, children: a copy of the birth certificate)
   *Certificates issued in languages other than Japanese or English must be accompanied by a simple Japanese or English translation.
5. A copy of the residence card or passport of the supporter in Japan
6. Documents (below) to confirm the occupation and income of the supporter
   (1)Certificate of enrollment (certificate of student status), certificate of employment, etc.
   (2) Documents certifying that you can defray all expenses for the supporter and the applicant incurred during the stay in Japan in the name of the supporter (e.g., bank statement, scholarship award letter, employment contract, taxation certificate, etc.)
   
   *If the supporter's residence status is "professor" or similar with an income in Japan, a taxation (or tax exemption) certificate for resident tax and a certificate of tax payment issued by the municipal office are also required. Either certificate is acceptable, provided it includes both the total annual income and the tax payment status.
7. A return envelope (filled with the address and name of the recipient of the CoE and stamped for registered mail)

*Additional documents may be required at the discretion of the Immigration Services Agency.